Pune: Maharashtra Govt to Introduce Biometric Attendance for Class XI-XII to Curb Coaching Class Trend
Pune: Maharashtra Govt to Introduce Biometric Attendance for Class XI-XII to Curb Coaching Class Trend
Pune: The Maharashtra state government has announced the implementation of a biometric attendance system for Class XI and XII students in state board schools from the upcoming academic year. The move aims to curb the growing trend of students skipping regular classes to attend private coaching centers for competitive exams like NEET, JEE, and MHT-CET.
Under the new system, students will be required to mark their attendance using facial recognition or fingerprint-based biometrics. It will be mandatory for students to maintain at least 75 percent attendance throughout the academic year.
The decision comes in response to the increasing prevalence of integrated coaching classes operating in collaboration with junior colleges. Many students reportedly attend only practical sessions in schools while spending the rest of their time in private coaching centers, often with the consent of both institutions and parents.
MSBSHSE Chairman Sharad Gosavi confirmed the decision, stating, “We have observed that several coaching centers manipulate attendance records in collaboration with colleges. The biometric system will help us track attendance accurately and bring students back to classrooms.”
The biometric attendance system will be implemented in major cities like Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Latur, where the coaching class trend is most prominent.
While the scheme was initially proposed two years ago but faced opposition, education experts now support the initiative, emphasizing its importance in restoring classroom discipline. Former state principals’ association vice-president Mahendra Ganpule remarked, “Many colleges have near-zero attendance, rendering teaching efforts ineffective. If the government is serious about this implementation, it must ensure the system works efficiently.”
Parents have largely welcomed the decision but also stressed the need to improve the quality of education in schools and colleges. They believe that better teaching standards could reduce students’ dependence on external coaching classes.
The education department will monitor the implementation process to ensure its success and address any operational challenges that may arise.
